Infrared Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Skin Temperature Sensitivity to Aerosol Vertical Distribution - Field Data Analysis and Model Simulations

Abstract:

Sea surface temperature (SST) is an Essential Climate Variable, the radiative impact of mineral dust is one of the major contributors to inaccuracies in the satellite-retrieved sea surface skin temperature (SST_skin). Different aerosol dust vertical distributions have varying effects on the satellite-derived SST_skin. To further investigate the physical mechanisms of aerosol effects on TERRA MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) derived SST_skin, the aerosol radiative effects were studied with a field data matchup analysis and a fast-radiative transfer model. Measurements of the SST_skin using highly accurate infrared radiometers on ships as well as of vertical atmospheric temperature and water vapor values using Vaisala RS92 radiosondes were obtained throughout the AERosols and Ocean Science Expeditions (AEROSE). The AEROSE data have been withheld from data assimilation schemes. The NASA Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) three-dimensional aerosol dust concentrations have been used as input to radiative transfer model simulations. Based on the field data analysis and model simulations, we quantified the relationship between TERRA MODIS retrieved SST_skin inaccuracies and 1) dust concentration in the atmosphere, 2) the dust layer altitude, which is related to 3) the aerosol dust layer temperature.